Nicknames are something earned, not just given. The men who earned the moniker of Harlem Hellfighters represented the African American soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment. Composed of men primarily from New York, they fought on the Western Front in 1918. There, they earned the respect of their foes and friends, only to face discrimination from their own countrymen.
Why Was the 369th Infantry Created?
The 369th Regiment assembled before the Great War after Harlem politicians advocated for all black military units. In 1913, New York State authorized the creation of all-black National Guard units after this pressure. These new soldiers formed the 15th New York Colored Infantry Regiment, with only black officers commanding.
The name change to the 369th occurred upon America’s 1918 entry into World War One as the U.S. government federalized many Guard units. The 369th traveled to North Carolina for training, often under conditions simulating Europe’s terrible trench warfare.
Why Did the Harlem Hellfighters Serve Under the French?
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Sign up to our Free Weekly NewsletterThe Hellfighters deployed to France in December 1917 as laborers, not infantry. Because of racial intolerance, only 10% of African American soldiers saw combat in the Great War. Most remained as laborers running supplies, cooks, or construction. White American soldiers considered black troops inferior, refusing to serve with them.
To resolve the issue, the Americans transferred the 369th to the French. Hard put for any trained replacements, the French happily accepted this in March 1918. The Hellfighters received French equipment, clothing, and tactical training. The French Army sent the unit into the trenches and combat immediately. The French soldiers treated the Americans much better, having served with French Colonial African troops.
How Did the Hellfighters Earn Their Nickname?
The Hellfighters got their nickname from the Imperial German Army. Under French command, the unit served 191 straight days in combat in campaigns like the May 1918 Champagne-Marnes Offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
The German soldiers watched the 369th Infantry withstand their artillery bombardments, poison gas attacks, and unremitting assaults. For this, they called them “Hellfighters.” Their French comrades respectfully called them “Men of Bronze.”
What Medals Did the Hellfighters Earn?
More than any other American unit, the Hellfighters served 191 continual days in the trenches. Members won medals, including the Croix de Guerre, Medal of Honor, and Distinguished Service Cross. One member, Henry Johnson, posthumously won the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military award. The U.S. government officially awarded Johnson’s Medal in 2015, decades after his passing.
Johnson won the medal fighting off a German night raid on May 4, 1918, which prevented more casualties. Despite severe wounds (21), he fought with at least 12 soldiers who retreated. As his foes left, they carried off a wounded comrade. Johnson pounced, armed only with a knife, fighting off the two Germans and rescuing his fellow Hellfighter.
The French government awarded 170 Croix de Guerre medals to Hellfighters. The 369th Regiment took some 1,500 casualties during the Great War. This would be the highest of any American regiment.
What Is a Little-Known Fact About the Hellfighters?
Almost like a complement to their fighting abilities, the 369th’s Regimental Band introduced jazz music to Europe. Led by James Reese Europe, the band played this wild new music mainly for French audiences. A successful musician before the Great War, Reese brought professional experience plus an innate talent to the job. The band began performing for French audiences before their deployment to the trenches. Europe led the band even near incapacitating gas attack injuries.
During the first few months of 1918, the 369th Regimental Band toured France. Their music impressed Irving Cobb, a noted American journalist who often criticized African Americans. One little-known fact is the band also contained 19 Puerto Rican musicians! Coincidentally, the band launched the careers of jazz musicians like Charles “Lucky” Roberts and Frances Mikall.
When Did the Hellfighters Return to America?
In the final half of 1918, the Great War in the West coincided with its heaviest fighting. The German Army steadily gave ground to the Allies. Imperial Germany finally surrendered, signing a peace treaty ending the war on November 11, 1918. The Hellfighters departed France in early February 1919, bound for New York City. The strict segregation rules meant their first departure aboard the battleship USS Olympia was refused. On February 17, 1919, New York City celebrated the Hellfighters’ return with a ticker tape parade.
Where Is the Hellfighters’ Legacy Celebrated?
As a nearly forgotten but still noted U.S. Army unit, the Hellfighters’ legacy is retold or celebrated in various places. These include the Museum of African American National History and Culture and the American Battlefield Monument Commission.
